Arsenal v West Ham LIVE: Premier League score and updates as Declan Rice starts against former club

11 minutes: Martinelli makes a wise dart into the penalty space earlier than laying it again to Trossard on the sting of the field. The Belgian has house to shoot however he’s skewed that effort over the bar.

9 minutes: Trossard whips in Arsenal’s first nook of the sport nevertheless it’s bravely cleared away by the West Ham defence on the close to publish.

7 minutes: Some half-hearted appeals for handball on Coufal are waved away by Michael Oliver. It’s nonetheless all Arsenal in these early goings.

5 minutes: An attention-grabbing early tactical growth is the positioning of Declan Rice. The Arsenal midfielder appears to be dropping deep alongside the 2 centre-backs when the hosts have the ball. Zinchencko, in flip, seems to be taking over an inverted function in central midfield.

3 minutes: The hosts are on high within the early phases as Odegaard’s flick performs by way of Saka into the world. The ahead tries to bend it round Areola nevertheless it’s a snug save ultimately for the West Ham keeper.

1 min: An early likelihood for the Hammers as Ward-Prowse slice a difficult effort over the bar from the sting of the field.

West Ham get us underway within the first half.

Lucas Paqueta seems to be beginning as he – alongside his teammates – emerges from the Emirates tunnel. A sigh of reduction for West Ham.

Just 5 minutes to go, now, and the environment contained in the Emirates is constructing properly for the ultimate fixture of the midweek Christmas slate. Can Arsenal return to the highest of the desk or do West Ham have one other shock win up their sleeve?